Some African leaders offered tepid praise for the choice of Gaddafi, who grabbed power in a 1969 coup. Rights groups called him a poor model for Africa at a time when democratic gains are being reversed in countries such as Mauritania and Guinea. (See pictures of Ethiopia's harvest of hunger.)
Once ostracized by the West for sponsoring terrorism, Gaddafi has been trying to increase Libya's presence on the global stage and its regional influence — mediating African conflicts, sponsoring efforts to spread Islam on the continent and pushing for the creation of a single African government.
He attended the session dressed in a gold-embroidered green robe and flanked by seven extravagantly dressed men who said they are the "traditional kings of Africa." Gaddafi told about 20 of his fellow heads of state that that he would work to unite the continent into "the United States of Africa."
Gaddafi arrived at the summit Sunday with the seven men, one carrying a 4-ft. gold staff, and caused a stir when security officials did not admit them because each delegation gets only four floor passes. All seven "kings" were seated behind Gaddafi when he accepted the chairmanship.
http://newageislam.com/libya-s-gaddafi-chosen-to-lead-african-union/islamic-world-news/d/1171
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3:35 AM
Moderate Islamist here
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